Wheel.



H. D. MILLS.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION man MAR. 19. 1914.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Attorneys flanges 4.

WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May it, 1915.

Application filed March 19, 1914. Serial No. 825,878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY D. MILLS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Far Rockaway,'in the county of Queens and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Wheel, of which the following is aspecification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a resilientwheel, and one Object of the present invention is to provide a device ofthis type in which pneumatic tires and other inflatable elements subjectto puncture and damage may be dispensed with.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means foranti-frictionally supporting the spring spokes intermediate their ends,thereby to prevent an undue straining of the spokes at times.

It is within the scope of the invention to improve generally and toenhance the utility of, devices of that type to which the presentinvention appertains. v

With the above and other objects in 'view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combinationand-arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without depart ing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings :--Figure 1 shows in side elevation, aportion of the wheel constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, parts being broken away; Fig. 2 is a cross section on theline 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspective illustrating aportion of the hub; Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections showing modi-'fications in the means whereby the outer ends of the spokes are securedto the rim.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a hub which is acomposite stlcture. The hub includes a tubular portion' 1, to the endsof which side plates 2 are attached, by means of securing elements 3.The peripheries of the side plates 2 are extended toward the medianplane of the wheel to form approaching, marginal In these flanges 4opposed notches are formed, the notches cooperating to define openings5. Between the openings 5, the marginal flanges 4 are outwardly eX-tended, as will be understood best from Fig.

3, to form ears 6 which are curing elements 7.

The rim 8 may be of any desired form and supports a tire 9 which may bea solid construction or may be otherwise formed.

united by se- The invention includes a plurality of arched spring spokes10, the outer ends of which are attached by means of securing elements11 to the rim 8. The spring spokes 10. pass inwardly through theopenings 5, and the inner ends of the spokes are united by means ofsecuring elements 12 with the tubular body portion 1 of the hub. In theside plates 2 upon each side of each opening 5 shafts 14 are mounted,the same carrying anti-friction elements 15, which may be rollers, theanti-friction elements 15 being disposed in pairs, and the rollers ofeach pair lying upon opposite sides of one of the spring spokes 10.

When the spring spokes begin to yield, the same will come into contactwith the rollers 15 and these rollers 15 will rotate to entiallyextended reinforced ribs located bea tween the openings 4, thesereinforcing ribs serving to strengthen the side plates 2 to withstandthe strain imposed thereon when the spokes 10 come into contact with therpllers 15.

In Fig. 4, the rim is denoted by the numeral 25 and the tire is shown at26. A box, recess or socket shown at 27 maybe formed in the rim 25 forreceiving the outer end of the spoke 28.

Passing to Fig. 5, the rim is denoted by the numeral 29' and the tire bythe numeral 30. In this form of the invention, the box so I or casingwhich receives the outer end of and terminally journaled for rotationupon the hub, the roller being located adjacent the opening and beingadapted to engage the intermediate portion of the curved faceof thespoke when the spoke yields.

2. In a device of the class described, a hub having a peripheralopening; a rim; a spring spoke connected with the hub and the rim andextending through the opening; anti-friction elements journaled upon thehub, upon opposite sides ofthe opening, and adapted to cooperate withthe spoke; the periphery of the hub being equipped with outstandingreinforcing ribs located approximately parallel to the median plane;

of the wheel and disposed upon opposite sides of the opening.

3. In a device of the class described, a hub comprising a tubular bodyand side plates secured to the ends of the body, the peripheries of theside plates being provided with approaching marginal flanges havingcooperating notches defining openings, the marginal flanges havingoutwardly extended abutting ears; securing elements connecting the ears;a rim; springspokes connecting the tubular body and the rim

